12 ON THE 12^TH

Our last day in Darwin….and what better way to finish our N.T. experience than to celebrate Gracie’s 12^th birthday (on the 12^th !)

Might be best to let the photos tell the story of the day’s festivities.

Day started with beautiful breakfast at Cornucopia next to Museum. Pancakes!

Then off to Leanyer Water Park and the Water Slides

Gracie's feet!

Heaps of fun!

Party Food. Gracie's favorite....French toast, smoked salmon, advocado, dill, cream cheese, capers and dill. Yum!

Next stop....indoor trampoline centre Flip Out .Thanks Sarah and Josh .

Smile says it all!

Grip socks....a great look!

Spag Bol for tea....Gracie's choice.

Guess who threw a Yahtzee to win!

Happy Birthday Gracie!

BEER CAN REGATTA

Excited to be in Darwin on the same weekend as the infamous Beer Can Regatta and even more exciting was that Sarah and her work colleagues had built and entered a boat for this year’s event.

They even made the NT News, and luckily on page 5. (If you know the NT News….you never want to be on the front cover!)

The event is held on Mindil Beach and attracted thousands of onlookers…… and thankfully no crocs!

Sarah’s boat proved to be very ship shape and completed the course quickly…unlike other boats.

Well done Sarah!

JOIN THE DOTS

                Gracie, thanks to John at Mt Allan has discovered and enjoyed completing highly complex dot to dot drawings, and has produced some amazing pieces of work, including cats, horses and this elephant. So realistic!

CAHILLS CROSSING AND UBIRR ROCK ART SITE

Spent this morning viewing a notoriously dangerous river crossing named Cahills Crossing. This crossing over the East Alligator River serves as the connection to Arnhem Land and is renowned for crossing crocodile infested waters and where a number of deaths have been recorded of people who have lost control of their car, fished on or waded across the crossing. Google Cahills Crossing for some spine tingling recounts of crocodile attacks, including one in January this year!

While there today, three men fishing for barramundi were standing in the water close to observable crocodiles. Hope they’re not on the news tonight!

We then ventured onto Ubirr Rock Art Site, home to some of the world’s most significant rock art and an area steeped in Aboriginal culture and tradition. The site also afforded spectacular views of Kakadu wetland areas.

We have made an Animoto of Ubirr that can be viewed by using this link.

Rock Paintings

Tomorrow we head off to Darwin for the last leg of our adventures in the N.T. and more importantly our chance to spend some time with Josh and Sarah.

Robyn is really looking forward to catching up with friends from her time teaching in Katherine, Libby, Eric, Yve and John.

THE TOP END

After spending two days at Bitter Springs, mostly spent floating down the spring fed thermal waters of the stream, as well as completing  a long walk along the Roper River to the Mataranka Falls (no swimming due to crocs!) we headed towards one of, if not our favourite spot in the Territory, Edith (Leliyn) Falls.

Originally we were going to stay two nights, but so good was the campsite and the swimming holes we extended to three nights.

Again, most of our time was spent in the water, with frequent walks to the Top Pool with its beautiful cascading waterfall and plunge pools to swim in. We also hiked into Sweetwater with its tranquil setting and nature provided spa pool! Amazing!

Barra and Buffalo burgers were a perfect way to cap the day!

KAKADU

In 2015, we promised ourselves that we would revisit Kakadu and stay longer to do it justice.

We used Cooinda as our first base for two nights, and spent a day visiting….and swimming in two spectacular waterfalls and plunge pools, Gunlom and Maguk.

We walked to the top of the Gunlom waterfall and found ourselves taking a relaxing dip in a crystal clear natural pool high above a sweeping vista of Kakadu National Park! Breathtaking!

We then drove to Maguk Gorge, walked through a lush monsoon forest full of pandanus palms and arrived at a cascading waterfall and large plunge pool. Another swimming opportunity too good to miss.

After such an adventurous day, we celebrated at Cooinda Lodge with our meal highlight of 2015….Barramundi Curry, made using bush tucker. Divine….and so too was the lemon myrtle tart as dessert!

Today we have taken the relatively short drive to Jabiru to spend the next two nights. Gracie has spent most of the day making friends with another girl and spending a lot of time swimming together in the camping ground’s resort style pool.

Baked beans for tea tonight!  Then back in the pool for a swim under a moonlit sky!

And who should Robyn bump into (not literally) in the spa but (singing) Dave and Lyn from Mitta days.  So good to see them!  Dave and I sang Leaving On A Jetplane for old time’s sake!